Posts Tagged ‘Ray Wagner’

All the county executive’s men and women will help Charlie Dooley blow out 63 candles on his natal celebration on Dec. 15 at Sugo’s. . .Where’s Charlie?  He’s been to attorney Bob Blitz‘s Christmas party at Cafe Napoli.  Others there were Gaming Comish general counsel Chris Hinkley, Mayor Francis Slay, Lt. Guv Peter Kinder, Judge John Ross, Judge Larry Mooney, Sarah Steelman and Ann and Ray Wagner.  FYI: Clients of Blitz’s Jeff City branch include firms that manufacture games for casinos. . . . .Guests at the St. Louis Hills holiday party saw Cong. Russ Carnahan show up and shake hands with his former opponent Ed Martin and his wife, Carol.  Carny got some ogling over his full leather jacket from Australia.  And, wife Debra was a no-show. . .The hoity-toity Plaza in Clayton condos is now home to some prominent bachelors and almost-bachelors.  Among them are Joe Buck, Sam Bradford, Steve Shankman and Stifel Financial’s ceo, chairman and prez Ron Kruszewski, whom friends say is calling off his marriage. . .Pioneer Bank’s Tom Brewster, Jr., is heading for some housecleaning at Reliance Bank. . .Soldier of Fortune and owner of the yesteryear American Athletic Club on Manchester, Joe Adams, 60, is celebrating his fourth year of marriage to Deanna Daughhetee, owner of American Equity Mortgage at their snazzy Hampton Park manse. But, that’s not the item. Adams is now heading Project Bluelight, an anti-terrorist intelligence operation in support of Homeland Security personnel in the field.  “We primarily report to Border Patrol Intelligence, but do assist agents in the field when called upon,” said Adams.  “Our mission SOP is to make no contact or be detected by anyone entering the United States illegally or involved in illegal activities.  The only time Project Bluelight wavers from the mission is for medical emergencies or the presence of children.  We report all movement and/or activity to federal authorities.”  Recalling the days, when he ran his physical fitness empire where he helped clients attain their physical fitness goals, he poo-poo’ed today’s personal trainers.  “Some charge up to $75 an hour and I charged $125 a-year to help members,” he said. . .Look for Erker Optical Co. to import the chic Mainbach glasses from the Bayern region of Germany.  Jack Erker was toasted on the family-owned business on its 130th anniversary at Herbie’s Vintage ’72 and the soon-to-debut Erker’s in the CWE on Maryland Avenue, which will replace McGinty’s in Ted Koplar‘s edifice, bringing to three stores in the Erker chain. . .Aloyse Heiss McShane is now enjoying the good life in Florida these days, according to her heiress Barbara Heiss, who was with her best friend, Steve Kay, at Protzel’s.  Aloyse, 83, was once married to the late Gordon Heiss, bossman of the Lenox and Mayfair Hotels and then to Edwin R. “Bill” Culver, III.  Meanwhile, deli lama Max Protzel and his wife, Rachel, became parents of Eli Alexander, who popped out at more than eight pounds. . .Susan Gray‘s MAC Meetings & Events is becoming a rising force when it comes to producing street festivals and public events.  The meeting and event planner has scored with some major festivals here:  “Tour De Grove” and the “Grovefest” as well as the “Soulard Oktober-fest.”  Expanded responsibilities will follow for the 2011 Oktober-fest event along with some other major happenings.

“You cannot take photos or interview members of the site committee,” demanded Brian Wahby, a force behind the St. Louis host committee to lure the convention to St. Louis.  (Sorry, Brian, by the time you said that, the columnist, a dutiful news gatherer, had already covered the group). The site team, that will make their recommendations to the deciders to hold the 2012 convention here, might have already pored through the 1,000-page proposal, that had been submitted. (St. Louis is one of four cities being considered, including Minneapolis, Charlotte and Cleveland).  A tension-filled, bipartisan gaggle of our town’s leading citizens romanced the committee over cocktails at the Hilton Ballpark Hotel before a concert was to begin in Kiener Plaza. On hand were: Kitty Ratcliff of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commish, who had just returned from Vancouver, where she took the show on the road at a trade show; County Exec Charlie Dooley on the Immigration Bill – “No one should have to carry an ID”; former mayor Vince Schoemehl with his wife, Lois – “It would be a celebration of the renaissance of downtown. It would be guaranteed to carry Missouri in 2012″; Missouri Treasurer Clint Zweifel – “It would be on a Super Bowl level”;  Martin Casas, president of the Young Democrats, with his wife, Katie – “It would be a new identity, a fresh outlook and perception of St. Louis”; GOPer Ray Wagner – “It’s all about showcasing St. Louis to the world, but I cannot further comment. I’m here for Enterprise (Rent-A -Car)”;  State Sen. Robin Wright-Jones – “It would stop St. Louis from being a midwestern, sleepy town”; site committee member Steve Kerrigan, sipping a Bud Select, to former Mo.Lt. Guv Joe Maxwell – “You have an amazing city”; Jerry Feldhaus, exec sect’y. and treasurer of the St. Louis Building Trades Council, turned to the woes of unemployment and moaned, “There is about 30 percent unemployment – across the board”; St. Louis Police Capt. Sam Dotson on the convention – “It’s ours to lose”;  East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks, with his wife, Jo Ann - “It would help boost the economy of East St. Louis through the spillover. We have gambling and entertainment.” . . . It’s a mystery why his Mysterious Majesty of Khorassan  (read that as the Veiled Prophet) banker Joe Imbs was a no-show.

Ann Wagner

She came a long way from Ballwin, Mo., to become U.S. Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and previously co-chair of the Republican National Committee for four years.  That’s Ann Wagner, who dined Tuesday night on a bone-in veal chop at Il Bel Lago with members of her family. The Cor Jesu Academy grad – once a  state director for the re-election of President George H.W. Bush and Veep Dan Quayle – confided she might run for U.S. senator or governor of Missouri in 2012.  “It depends on what (Lt. Guv.) Peter Kinder will do,” she said.  “We need more balance in power.”  As for the health care reform bill, she said it’s too expensive for the U.S.  “In socialized Europe, I have seen what happens when a government is pervasive in business, politics and education,” Wagner continued.  “They don’t have ownership of their full freedom.”  As for same-sex marriage, Wagner opined, “I’m a proponent of rights to any human being. But for now, our number one priority is supporting Roy Blunt‘s race for the U.S. Senate.”  Does she miss Luxembourg?  “Not at all,” she concluded. Wagner raised a toast to her mom, Ruth Truesdale, on her 70th birthday. Dad Earl and Ann‘s daughter, Mary Ruth Wagner, also joined in the celebration. Ann’s hub, Ray Wagner, a veep with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, was unable to attend.